Silver Moon (16 page)

I have the bright idea to look in the yellow pages, which isn’t a total loss. I do find the listing, it just doesn’t have an address—only a phone number.

The only
real
solution I can come up with is this: To know more concerning what I’m dealing with, I have to think like what I’m dealing with. If there are some out there who possess the skill to use magic, and I face them empty-handed… Well, I don’t want to think about it; it could be disastrous.

I pick up the phone and dial the set of numbers. My finger stays directly below the listing, so I won’t lose my place.

The receiving end stops ringing, and a gurgled cough follows. “Ni-Night Sky Books. Can I help you?” A woman’s voice wheezes out each word.

“Yeah, hi, um, I’m trying to get your address.” Okay, so I sound like a total loser.

She chuckles through phlegm. “Afraid I can’t give that away, dearest.”

Weird. “Why not?”

“Bad part of town. You sound too young to be here. Just stick to the library.”

“But I don’t
want
to go to the library. I want to visit your store. Now, are you going to tell me where you’re located or do I have to find you myself?”

Her voice lowers to a whisper. “
153 Southwest Tails Drive
. But you didn’t hear that from me.” She hangs up.

I stare at the phone briefly, then decide I’d better scribble down the address before I forget. Good thing Beth and Randy aren’t here. Beth would be all over my ass about where I’m going—yet another reason why I’m happy to have a job, even if I haven’t worked in a few days.

Speaking of which, I’m surprised Jana hasn’t stopped by to check on me or call me into work. Maybe Lily has picked up extra hours. I have bigger problems on my plate, though. Like my freaky dreams. They didn’t start until I got here, so they must be a direct result of someone or
something
who wants me out of this town for good. But who? The only people I know of who want me gone, even dead, are the
Conways
. Would they stoop so low as to use magic against me?

I’ll think about it later. I need to finish this. I
have
to learn as much as I can about magic, including the bad stuff.

I wiggle my mouse, and the computer wakes up. Hastily, I search for directions to this place. It’s located near
Hartford
. How am I supposed to get there? By foot? I can’t exactly tell anybody that I’m going there, either.

I don’t really have a choice. I have to suck it up and make the trek.

~*~

An hour later and I’m standing outside of a tattered building, where the paint has faded to a maroon color and crumbled off the exterior.

“This can’t be right,” I mumble, pulling the folded piece of paper from my jean pocket and re-reading the directions.

According to them, this is it. This is the place.

“Whatever,” I say aloud, and walk toward the heavy metal doors painted with graffiti. I knock twice. Nothing happens. I raise my hand to knock again when I hear conversations taking place. My ears guide me to an alley next to the building. I don’t
see
anyone, but they’re there. Somewhere.

Continuing down broken concrete steps, the noises become louder. My right hand uses the brick wall for support. I ease one foot in front of the other. Where
are
they? To my left, the wall is indented, and a door stands open. Peeking inside, I see now where the commotion is coming from.

Several people dressed in an array of outfits—none of which are modern—are absorbed with shelves upon shelves of books. Their clothing reminds me of a cult with long capes and hoods. The women are wearing lacey corsets that tie up the front, and the men have on some sort of masks—Phantom of the Opera style.

I can’t move. It’s intriguing and frightening at the same time.

And any one of them can turn me into a toad.

Okay, don’t be stupid. They won’t hurt you if you don’t pay them any attention.

So, I grow some balls and step inside the place. Cautiously, of course. All eyes are on me; I can feel them branding my face, my skin. I don’t look at anyone, just run my fingers over book spines to pretend I’m totally interested. I’m hoping and praying it works, that it’s enough to convince myself
and
these people.

“You look lost,” a seductive male voice says.

I don’t meet his eyes, but continue to act like I’m searching for something. In reality, my heart feels like it’s about to pound up my throat and squeeze its way out my ears. “No, I’m fine,” I say.

“Are you sure?” He whispers, “A girl like you shouldn’t be here, you know.”

That’s when I actually look at him, see his face. His hair is in wispy, brown layers to his shoulders, and his eyes are the color of a dandelion.

I try to break my trance, but I’ve never seen eyes like his—except in the forest.

“Are you, uh,” I pause and glance around the store, “one of them?”

“One of the members of the Black Label?”

I snort. “Is that what they’re called?”

He nods. “Yeah, that’s them. Very genuine stuff. But no, I’m not in their circle.”

“Oh,” I blurt a little too quickly. “So whose circle
are
you in?”

A smile slowly makes its way across his face. “Mine.”

Slightly embarrassed that I keep staring, I turn around to toy with the books again. I ask, “What’s your name?”

But he doesn’t reply.

When I glance behind me, he’s not there. I frantically search the store, but don’t see him. How can someone tell me not to be here, and then just vanish on his own?

He stood here and told me he wasn’t a part of the Black Latex, or whatever they’re called. His own circle? Does that mean he worries only about himself? What a weirdo.

I might as well continue searching for helpful books since I’m here. My fingers stop on one named
Help for Beginners: Black Magic
. I place it in my other arm. The next book I find is
Magic 101: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need.
I’m not sure if I should keep looking. I can always come back to this freak show.

Two familiar voices turn me to stone.

Cameron and Ethan.

“When’s this meeting supposed to start, bro?” Ethan asks.

“
Sshh
,” Cameron warns. “Keep quiet, dumbass, or you’ll get us kicked out before it even begins.”

Ethan mumbles, “Sorry.”

I huddle as close to the bookshelf as I possibly can. I don’t want their army to come after me. Was that why everyone gave me cold stares? Do they know who I am? More importantly, what the hell are Cameron and Ethan talking about?

After waiting until they disappear into a back room, I quickly pay for the books and get out of there. I’m tired of their sinister eyes staring at me. It’s like they can see under my clothes or something.

I’m too busy staring at the busted concrete steps, making sure I don’t fall on my face, to notice that I’m walking directly into people.

“Oh, I’m so—” I freeze. Shit.

“Candra? What are you doing here?” Jana asks.

I
fold
my arms across my chest. “I could ask you two the same thing. But, since you asked first, I’ll just tell you that I came here to buy a few books.”

“Listen, you shouldn’t be here alone.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, so I’ve been told. Listen, I’ve got to get home before it gets dark.” Staring up at the sky, I realize I don’t have much time before the sun goes down. I
definitely
don’t want to be stuck here with the freaks after dark.

“Oh my God. You walked here? Have you completely lost it?” Jana asks.

“Not yet, but I’m close.”

“C’mon. We’re taking you home,” she says, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the street ahead.

The entire ride home she and Blake don’t speak. It’s like they’re pissed at me. At
me
of all people. Like I don’t have a complete say-so in where I go and what I do. Some friends.

“Thanks for the ride,” I say, hopping out of the backseat before Blake makes a complete stop.

“Candra, wait.” Jana jumps out behind me. “Look, the best place for you to be right now is at home, not in a bad area such as Night Sky Books.”

“So it’s okay for you two to go there, but not me? Don’t be a hypocrite,” I huff, and spin around to open the front door.

“We’re only trying to help. I won’t go there unless Blake goes with me.”

“How sweet. So, tell me, why
were
you two there? I mean, I have a good reason. Do you?”

Jana’s eyes water. “Candra, don’t do this. We can’t—we’ve been told to keep quiet for now.”

I frown. “About what?”

“Stuff that’s happening. Okay, this was a bad idea. I’ve said too much already. I’ve got to go.”

I practically leap after her. “Jana, stop—” I grip her arm as she opens the passenger door.

“Candra, don’t make me do this. I want to tell you everything, but I can’t. Not yet.”

I stare into her eyes for a few moments. She’s torn. Entirely torn. Between what? I don’t know, but I aim to find out.

I release her from my death hold. She wraps her arms around my neck and squeezes me into a hug.

“One day I’ll be able to tell you,” she whispers in my ear.

Chapter Eighteen

L
ike clockwork, Ben arrives to pick me up the next morning for school. Randy and Beth already left for work, so I don’t have to worry about them going into werewolf mode and ripping Ben to pieces. I want to tell him about last night’s conversation between Beth and me. I want to tell him we can end this, together. But I don’t. Instead, we don’t say much. I find his presence comforting. I’ve gone through too much lately to have him jibber-jabber and ask me about my problems.

When we’re almost at school, I ask, “So, where’s this festival at?” I haven’t really thought about it since yesterday.

“Oh, um,” Ben stammers, “you’ll see.”

I grit my teeth. “There’s not a festival, is there?” I don’t even glance toward him. My eyes pierce the road. I should’ve seen right through him the first time he mentioned a stupid festival. Who goes to a festival anyway?

His head teeters back and forth. “Like I said—you’ll see.”

“You are the most stubborn person I’ve ever met,” I say, shaking my head. “Why would you invite me to a festival when you know damn well there’s not one?” I mumble something about him being stupid.

“Definitely stubborn. But stupid? That’s a no. As far as there being a festival or not—you’ll have to wait and find out.” He gives me one of his irresistible grins. I can’t argue with him when he does that.

Gossip at school has escalated over the past few days. News of life-long enemies playing nice with each other doesn’t sit well with the student body. Ben and I receive constant glares and whispers when we walk through the hallways. I keep my chin up, though, to let them know it doesn’t bother me.

“See you in class,” he says, like he does every day we walk together.

But today’s different, because Jana and Blake aren’t waiting for me at my locker. In a way, I’ve lost them. I know they aren’t Followers. I know none of this is morally correct. I
shouldn’t
be with him.

After Chemistry, I snatch my English book and head to class. Ben’s waiting for me. I plop down in my usual seat next to him.

“Did I tell you that you look beautiful today?” he whispers.

I roll my eyes. Since when do
I
look anything other than disorderly?

“No, you haven’t,” I reply.

“Well, you do.”

“Ben, I thought we were staying on the friendship-only level.” I test his reaction. My heart beats rapidly, waiting for his response. True, I can handle something more, but can he? I have to keep everything in check.
 

He bites his lip and avoids my eyes for a couple of seconds. He glances at the front of the class, where Mr. Everett is writing today’s lecture on the dry erase board. “I’ve thought about it, and I don’t really want to be
just
friends.”